Star of David (Jewish)

STAR OF DAVID - The "Star of David", known in Hebrew as the "Shield of David", is a generally recognized symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism.  The identification of the term "Star of David" or "Shield of David" with the hexagram shape dates to the 17th century.  The term "Shield of David" is also used in the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) as a title of the God of Israel.

Because of its geometric symmetry, the hexagram has been a popular symbol in many cultures from earliest times.  Anthropologists claim that the triangle pointing downward represents female sexuality, and the triangle pointing upward, male sexuality; thus, their combination symbolizes unity and harmony.   During the Holocaust, the Nazis chose the *yellow star of David" as an identifying badge required on the garments of all Jewish peoples.  After the war, Jews turned this symbol of humiliation and death into a badge of honor.